General Fiat 1000 CLX IE timing

[Dale109]

Hi

I am new to this forum and type of car.
I am used to bigger cars so this really is a first for me

I have just(2 hours ago) got hold of a 1993 Fiat 1000 CLX IE that has a bad head gasket.
The previous owner in his infinte wisdom took the head off and now I have no idea where the timing should be or what marks to look for. :bang:
It would be great if anybody could tell me where the timing marks are so I can get this mad little car back on the road.
The rest of the car is very clean so its got loads of life left in it yet and its done just under 68,000 miles from new.

Thanks in advance and congrats on a great forum.
Dale

 

[John H]

Your '93 CLX has a distributor driven off the end of the camshaft, if it's anything like mine.

You need a timing/strobe light to set it up, as the distributor is electronic.

Trigger the strobe off #1 (plug nearest UK drivers side) and set to 2 degrees advanced, with the vacuum advance to the distributor disconnected and plugged.

The timing marks are at either end of the engine - on the crankshaft pulley for driving the alternator belt, or on the flywheel with reference marks on the hole in the gearbox bell housing.
Marks are 0, 5, 10, 15 from left to right.
It may be worth "painting" all the marks with typing correction fluid if your strobe is as dim as mine.

Restore the pipe to the vacuum advance unit afterwards, and it should advance about 12 degrees - if not you need another advance unit.


Let us know how you get on.

 

[Giacosa]

Hey Congrats on Joining the lunatic band of Panda owners! First get a haynes or porter manual (indispensible). There are timing marks on the camshaft sprocket and the crankshaft sprocket (Timing Belt end of engine). On the cam sprocket its a line on the edge of the casting which should be lined up with an obvious "nick" on the rear edge of the cylinder head. The Crank shaft pulley (which has a drivebelt running to the alternator) needs to be unbolted so u can see the mark on the sprocket. Mark on sprocket again is a line in the casting which is lined up with a pronounced 'step' on the rear edge of the casting on the engine block.

At the other end of the engine ie distributor end there are alternative marks u can use. In the top od the gearbox is a cut out through which u can see the flywheel. Rotate the crank by hand (check isnt in gear) and u should see a nick in the casting. U should line this up with largest downward pointing arrow. (one of three u see wen looking through the cutout). 2nd mark at this end of the engine is on distributor. On top of distributor casting is a line. This needs to be lined up exactly with the centre of the rotor arm. The distributor end method is the one i prefer easier to see everything

 

[pandafan]

Hi....and welcome!

I really can't add anything to the learned comments above; but if you only buy one manual......make it 'PORTERS'.

Congratulations on buying one of the finest little cars ever produced.

 

[Dale109]

Thanks for the fast replies.
I will have a crack when I get home from work tomorrow.
The distributor is on the end of the camshaft.

I must admit the car was begging me to buy it! a real bargain at only £20.
From reading posts on this forum I gather they suffer from rotten doors luckily this one has a mint set of doors and a perfect bodyshell.
Its a kinda british racing green colour.

I remember a few years ago I had the use of an Uno with the fire engine for a couple of months and it was a cracking little car so if these are half as much fun I will be happy.

Thanks

 

[pandafan]

You WILL be happy.


..............but, if you're not,

I could use the doors!